What is The Best PCOS Diet?

If you are here and you are reading this article, then it is safe to assume that either you or someone you love has PCOS. And you’re probably wondering what the best way of treating your PCOS is. Do you have to take medication or is there a more natural way of managing PCOS?

Well, we know that diet is crucial to managing PCOS and we’re going to get into it in a lot more detail. But before we do, it is important to understand what PCOS is so that we know exactly what we’re dealing with.

What is PCOS?

PCOS or Polcystic Ovarian Syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Basically, we’re talking about a condition that affects our hormones. And I’m sure you know the symptoms all too well:

Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

An irregular menstrual cycle

Infertility

Acne

Hirsutism

Male pattern baldness

What causes PCOS?

To be honest with you, no one really knows for sure. There is thought to be some kind of hereditary component in PCOS (1).

Also, there is an intricate link between genes, insulin resistance and hormones that result in the symptoms already mentioned.

Now, when you were diagnosed with PCOS, your doctor may have prescribed medication or the birth control pill to help you manage your symptoms. And while those medications may work in the short term, they are not great over the long term.

You see, we need to get to the heart of the problem – the underlying hormone imbalance that affects all of us with PCOS.

How does my diet affect PCOS?

Changing the way that you eat is one of the most important things you can do to manage your PCOS. You see, you have the ability to get to the heart of the problem, your hormones, simply by changing the way that you eat.

Insulin and PCOS

Although researchers are not sure what causes PCOS, they have found that there is a fundamental change in the Beta cells of the pancreas (2). What this means is that our bodies tend to over-respond to any glucose in our blood stream, causing a release of too much insulin.

Insulin is an important hormone as it transports sugar from the blood into the muscles of the body, allowing the body to effectively make use of the energy from glucose. High insulin levels wreak havoc on the body, leading to a lot of the symptoms of PCOS like, increased hair growth, weight gain, skin tags, fatty liver and high cholesterol, polycystic ovaries and an irregular menstrual cycle, not to mention increased hunger levels and cravings. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Most of us have many, if not all, of those symptoms.

So, management of blood insulin levels is crucial in the management of PCOS. Refined carbohydrates cause a spike in insulin levels and should therefore be avoided.

Many doctors will recommend a low GI diet of wholegrain, unprocessed foods in the management of PCOS. Metformin is also a drug commonly prescribed for women with PCOS, in an attempt to tackle insulin resistance.

BUT, insulin is not the only hormone impacted by PCOS. If it were, we’d all have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which we have not. So, our diets need to incorporate low GI foods to manage insulin levels, in addition to tackling other aspects of the Polycystic Ovarian SYNDROME.

But, there is more…

Insulin, Androgens and PCOS

We know that a lot of the unpleasant symptoms of PCOS – hirsutism, infertility, acne – are caused by higher-than-normal levels of androgens or testosterone in our bodies. But why? Where do these high androgens come from?

Well, our ovaries produce androgens (this is normal for every women). But, in PCOS, our ovaries are too sensitive to insulin and this causes them to produce too much testosterone.

But do you see how insulin is the key to managing high androgens?

So, we can manage both our insulin and our testosterone by following a good PCOS diet.

What does the research say about diet and PCOS?

Now, this is important. The research shows that diet and lifestyle changes are the most effective way of managing PCOS (3).

Changing your diet should be the first thing that you do when you are diagnosed with PCOS. Unfortunately, not many doctors talk about this and they tend to prescribe medication first. And although you may see some improvements with medication, diet and lifestyle changes will be more effective (and you won’t need to take medication everyday for the rest of your life!)

Okay, so I have hopefully convinced you of the power of a good PCOS diet in managing your PCOS and it’s symptoms. Now I’m sure you must be wondering what on earth this PCOS diet looks like and what you should be eating.

Let’s talk about it!

What foods should I have more of?

Whole foods

Whole foods are foods that are as natural and unprocessed as possible. They are rich in fibre and take longer for the body to metabolise and break them down (they have a lower glycemic load). This means that they are absorbed more slowly into the blood stream and you need less insulin to deal with them. Remember, less insulin means less testosterone.

Examples of whole foods

Fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, healthy oils

Foods with a low Glycemic Load

Foods with a low glycemic load are those foods that do not cause a big spike in insulin. They tend to be unprocessed, unrefined and rich in fibre and vitamins and minerals.

Examples of foods with a low Glycemic Load

For examples of foods with a low glycemic load, why not check out this article from Harvard University?

Anti-inflammatory foods

Women with PCOS tend to have low levels of chronic inflammation. This makes us more resistant to insulin, chronically fatigued and prone to gaining weight (4).

While managing those insulin levels will help with inflammation, making sure that your PCOS diet is rich in anti-inflammatory foods will help too.

Examples of anti-inflammatory foods

Here are some examples of anti-inflammatory foods to incorporate into your PCOS diet:

dark leafy greens, including kale and spinach

blueberries, blackberries, and cherries

dark red grapes

nutrition-dense vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower

beans and lentils

green tea

red wine, in moderation

avocado and coconut

olives

extra virgin olive oil

walnuts, pistachios, pine nuts, and almonds

cold water fish, including salmon and sardines

turmeric and cinnamon

dark chocolate

spices and herbs

What foods should I avoid as part of my PCOS Diet?

Dairy

Now I know that this is a tough one for many but dairy is not good for PCOS for many reasons. One of the main issues with dairy is that it contains something called IGF-1 or insulin-growth-factor 1. IGF-1’s main role is to promote growth in newborn babies.

The problem is that it also mimics insulin in the body. And remember, the more insulin we have, the more testosterone we also have, making our PCOS symptoms worse.

The only exception I have for the dairy rule is that I still have butter as it is high in good fats and vitamins we struggle to get elsewhere. Also, the dairy content is fairly low.

Examples of dairy alternatives

Rice milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk

I suggest that you try a number of varieties and see which one you like the best.

Gluten

Gluten tends to create general inflammation in the body. Remember, the more inflammation we have, the more resistant we are to insulin and therefore the more testosterone we have floating around our bodies.

Now, before you rush off to the gluten free aisle, just a word of caution. Gluten free products tend to be highly refined and will have a high glycemic load, causing an insulin spike. So, I don’t recommend gluten free pastas, breads, treats, etc.

Soy

Soy products have been shown to delay ovulation in some women. And as we already struggle with ovulation already, I don’t recommend soy products for women with PCOS as it just exacerbates the problem.

Okay, so having looked at all of that, you may be wondering what on earth you’re actually going to be able to eat.

Let’s have a look at a sample PCOS meal plan.

What does a sample PCOS meal plan look like?

Before we get in to this, I want to encourage you that there are so many incredible foods out there and it won’t be long before your cravings subside, you feel better in yourself and you’re loving your new way of eating.

Here are some ideas for each meal of the day:

Breakfast

There are some wonderful breakfast options, including:

Green smoothies made with avocado, spinach, almond butter, apple and some fresh berries

Eggs and bacon or boiled egg and avocado

Grain free granola

Lunch

For lunch, I avoid sandwiches and instead opt for:

Salads

Soups

Leftovers

Dinner

Dinner is normally pretty simple:

Chicken thighs with sweet potato wedges and roasted veggies

Sausages, sweet potato mash and veggies

Salmon, steamed baby potatoes and a salad.

I also have 2 kids and we all tend to eat together so they have whatever we’re eating.

How do I get started on a PCOS Diet?

Here is the thing. We have PCOS for life (it’s not going to go away and there simply is no cure). This means that whatever we do, we need to make sure that we are making long lasting sustainable changes.

So, I would suggest that you start off with one meal. If you normally have cereal with milk for breakfast, try to make it more PCOS friendly. Once you feel comfortable with your breakfasts, move onto lunch and then to dinner.

However, you do it, start taking small manageable steps to eating better for your PCOS.

One of the best ways to get started with the PCOS diet is with the most advanced, dynamic meal planning platform, specifically for women with PCOS. It's called PCOS Foodies and I think you should really check it out!

How long after changing my diet will I see improvements in my PCOS symptoms?

This tends to be different for everyone but I have many women report weight loss, improved skin and starting a period within about a month of implementing these changes. Hair-related symptoms tend to take the longest to see improvements but it will happen!

I have some more resources to help you get started (PCOS shopping lists, substitution ideas and more) in my PCOS Starter Kit so why not sign up for it here?

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided on this site is for general use only and it is not intended to provide personal medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your individual health, I strongly urge you to seek independent medical advice. PCOS Diet Support does not accept any liability for losses or injuries caused from user’s reliance on information on this site.